Bhavnagar (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Bhavnagar on Saturday on his Gujarat tour. He held a grand road show and inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth over ₹34,200 crore under the “Sea to Prosperity” program. Addressing the public gathering, PM Modi said that India must become self-reliant to become a developed nation.
He said, “We don’t have a major enemy in the world, but if we do have a true enemy, it’s our foreign dependence. The greater the dependence, the greater the failure. Whether it’s chips or ships, we must manufacture them in India.”
PM Modi criticized the Congress governments. He said that after independence, the Congress party ignored India’s strengths and kept the country entangled in the license-quota raj. This caused great harm to Indian youth and India lagged behind in global competition.
Modi said that 50 years ago, 40% of India’s trade was carried by its own ships, but due to the policies of Congress governments, this figure has declined to just 5%. Now, India has to rely on foreign ships for 95% of its trade.
PM Modi said, “Today, $75 billion, or approximately Rs 6 lakh crore, goes to foreign shipping companies every year in freight. This amount is equivalent to India’s defense budget. If previous governments had paid attention, the world would be trading with ships built in India.”
He said the government has now taken the historic decision to grant infrastructure status to large ships. Over ₹70,000 crore will be spent on maritime sector development in the coming years.
PM Modi reiterated that the dream of a developed India by 2047 is impossible without self-reliance. “There is only one cure for 100 problems, and that is a self-reliant India. We must face the challenges and make the country self-reliant and stand before the world.”
Modi also mentioned the Seva Pakhwada (service fortnight). He said that blood donation and cleanliness drives are being conducted across the country. “So far, one lakh people have donated blood. Programs were also held at hundreds of places in Gujarat.”
He said that with the beginning of Navratri, the markets have become more lively due to reduction in GST.
